BILLINGS − Livingston’s Stuart Gentry took the tee box first in a playoff hole against Laurel’s Grady Wilder to determine the boys individual champion at Friday’s Eastern A Divisional Golf Tournament at Lake Hills Golf Club in Billings.
Gentry, who along with Wilder fired a 1-over 73 to tie for first through 18 holes, went left into a tree-lined rough on the par-4, 390-yard No. 1 hole.
Wilder adjusted accordingly, and it paid off. He found the middle of the fairway in front of a good-sized crowd, got onto the green in regulation and two-putted for par to beat Gentry, who wasn’t able to reach the green in regulation, and win the individual crown to highlight Friday’s action.
“(Gentry) got to go first, so it was good to watch his shot,” Wilder said moments after winning the title. “And after that, I kind of made up my mind and felt a little more calmer.”
Wilder and Gentry also played in the same group throughout. Wilder had a one-shot lead by heading into the par-5, 509-yard No. 2 hole, the final hole for the group. Gentry parred the second hole in a row while Wilder, who birdied the No. 1 hole, bogeyed.
Wilder eagled the par-5, 495-yard No. 9 hole and totaled four birdies, seven pars, five bogeys and one double bogey.
“It was a real tough day today,” Wilder said. “The wind was definitely a factor in that. And I guess (I was) just staying calm and (taking) one shot at a time.”
Livingston’s Anna Lende won the girls title for the second season in a row by clearing the field by at least five strokes or more.
Lende, who placed second at state last season, carded a 2-over 74 on the par-72, 5,146-yard layout by scoring four birdies, 10 pars − nine of which were on the 2,631-yard back nine − three bogeys and one triple bogey. Billings Central’s Jordan Nielsen placed second with a 79.
“I was a little bit nervous going into it,” Lende said. “But pressure is a good thing, and I know being nervous is a good thing. So I just tried to kind of push through it and not focus too hard on the negatives, more on the positives.”
The Rams, who won a Class A state title last season, dominated the field as all four scorers finished within the top six, leading to a team title and one of four state-qualifying spots. The top four teams and top eight individuals not on qualifying teams also advanced to the state tournament, which starts next Friday and ends Saturday at Sidney Country Club.
The Rams totaled a 339 to clear second-place Livingston by 48 strokes. Berkley Park fired an 83 for third, Kaitlin Ferris an 87 for fifth and CeCe Fornshell a 90 to enter a three-way tie for sixth to complete Billings Central’s score. Bailey Bruce also added a top-10 finish for the Rams by finishing ninth with a 92.
“It just shows the hard work that they’ve put in this year and in the offseason to get ready for that,” Billings Central boys and girls coach Tony Derrig said. “And the thing I like about these girls is they just grind it out. When one isn’t playing well, another one picks it up.”
“Kaitlin Ferris, my No. 3 golfer, had a great day. She shot a 39 on the front, and for her that’s one of her personal bests. Jordan, my No. 1 golfer, she had a typical round of hers,” Gerrig added. “They did what they’ve been doing all year, really.”
The Rangers, whose girls team scored a 387 to return to state for the second year in a row, also had a pretty good day on the boys side.
Livingston’s boys team totaled a 311, just beating out Billings Central (314) for the team crown and for its seventh consecutive trip to state. Laurel (327), the two-time defending state champion, and Sidney (330) placed third and fourth, respectively, to grab the last state-qualifying spots.
Gentry was backed up by his brother Sawyer Gentry, who carded a 75 for third. and Luca Zononi (81, tied for 11th) and Raymond Olds (82, tied for 13th) to make up the Rams’ score. Vann Wagman also scored an 84 for 17th.
Backing up Lende for Livingston’s girls team were Carter Jacobik (99, 13th) and Chloe Williams and Julia Lende, who both shot a 107 to tie for 22nd.
“Both the boys and girls have worked really hard this season, and they had big goals at the end of the season,” said Livingston boys and girls coach Jamie Brown, who wiped away tears moments before the interview after getting the Eastern A Divisional trophy. “I’m just really proud of them the work that they’ve put in.
“They stayed focused, and we’ve talked a lot about mental game and being able to stay consistent. And every single one of them was in a good mood today, and every single one of them just stayed right on track and did exactly what they needed to do. And we really have spent the season working on a team mentality, and I think both the boys and girls did that. They hit their goals.”
Lewistown’s girls team totaled a 397 for third and Miles City finished fourth with a 408 to snag the final two state-qualifying spots.
Scoring for Fergus were Autumn Goodan and Kami Moline, who both shot a 96 to tie for 11th, and Chloe Gremaux (101, 16th) and Ali Kolar (104, tied for 19th). Making up Miles City’s score were Brynn Drga (90, tied for sixth), Ava Flotkoetter (93, 10th), Jacie Chapweske (105th, 21st) and Aspen Peila (112, 31st).
Billings Central’s boys team had four golfers shoot 80 or lower, starting with Caleb Fornshell, who shot a 76 for fourth. Also scoring for the Rams were Colin Jensen (78, tied for fifth) and Walker Hayes and Carson Mangel, who both turned in an 80 to tie for ninth.
Backing up Wilder for Laurel were Royce Taylor (78, tied for fifth), Riley Valentine (86, 18th) and Sam Davison (90, tied for 21st) while Kalen Price (79, eighth), Brady Collins (81, tied for 11th), Jared Anderson (82, tied for 13th) and Conner Price (88, tied for 19th) made up Sidney’s score.
Boys who individually qualified for state were Fergus’ Kason Brown (78, tied for fifth), East Helena’s Reid Larson (82, tied for 13th) and Chris Schaefer (92, tied for 25th), Miles City’s Miles Wacker (88, tied for 19th) and Braden Schneidt (90, tied for 21st), Lockwood’s Wyatt Rea (91, tied for 23rd) and Carter Kaiser (92, tied for 25th) and Glendive’s Canon Greene (92, tied for 25th).
Girls who individually qualified for state were Sidney’s Izzy Basich (85, fourth) and McKenna Tiesen (103, 18th), Glendive’s Allie Wade (100, tied for 14th) and Murphy McPherson (107, tied for 22nd), Lockwood’s Izzabella Weber (90, tied for sixth), Laurel’s Harper Anderson (100, tied for 14th), East Helena’s Finn Bloomquist (102, 17th) and Havre’s Liliana Smith (104, tied for 19th).
For full results, click here.
Email at Jonathan.LeBlanc@406MTSports.com and follow on X/Twitter @JLeBlanc_21.
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